Patentable/Patents/US-9588609
US-9588609

Mobile terminal and method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal

PublishedMarch 7, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes placing the mobile terminal in lock mode; if a multi-touch signal including first and second touch signals is detected from a display module, releasing the mobile terminal from the lock mode, the first and second touch signals being touch signals detected from first and second areas, respectively, on the display module; and entering an operating mode which is set to enter upon the touching of the second area. Therefore, it is possible to unlock the mobile terminal and then readily enter a predefined operating mode in response to a multi-touch input detected from certain areas on the display module.

Patent Claims
14 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A mobile terminal comprising: a touch screen; a motion sensor; and a controller configured to: cause the touch screen to display a user interface for setting a predefined operating mode, the predefined operating mode set in response to an input received via the user interface, such that the mobile terminal enters the set predefined operating mode in response to a touch input received via the touch screen and a specific movement of the mobile terminal detected by the motion sensor while the mobile terminal is in a lock mode, the predefined operating mode comprising a camera mode; cause the touch screen to display a lock screen when the mobile terminal is in the lock mode, wherein the mobile terminal remains in the lock mode when no movement of the mobile terminal is detected by the motion sensor while the touch input received via one or more arbitrary points of the touch screen displaying the lock screen is maintained; unlock the mobile terminal that is in the lock mode and then enter the camera mode in response to detection of the specific movement of the mobile terminal by the motion sensor, the specific movement detected when the mobile terminal is rotated about an axis while the touch input received via one or more arbitrary points of the touch screen displaying the lock screen is maintained; and cause the touch screen to display an operation screen associated with the camera mode instead of the lock screen when the mobile terminal is unlocked in response to the touch input and the specific movement that are received and detected concurrently.

Plain English Translation

A mobile terminal features a touchscreen, a motion sensor, and a controller. The controller displays a user interface for setting a specific operating mode (like camera mode). When locked, touching the screen and performing a specific motion (rotating the phone around an axis) will unlock the phone directly into the chosen operating mode (camera). While locked, the touchscreen displays a lock screen, and the device stays locked if no motion is detected, even with touch input. Unlocking with the touch and motion combination replaces the lock screen with the camera's operational screen.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor comprises at least an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor.

Plain English Translation

The mobile terminal of Claim 1 uses a motion sensor that includes either an acceleration sensor or a gyroscope (or potentially both) to detect the specific motion required to unlock the device and enter the pre-defined operating mode. This motion sensor provides the data necessary for the controller to determine if the user has performed the correct movement in conjunction with the touchscreen input.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the touch input and the detection of the specific movement of the mobile terminal occur sequentially such that the receiving of the touch input occurs prior to the detection of the specific movement, and the touch input is maintained on the touch screen while the specific movement is performed.

Plain English Translation

In the mobile terminal of Claim 1, the touchscreen input (touch) happens slightly *before* the phone rotation is detected. The user touches the screen and *keeps* touching it while rotating the phone. The controller checks that touch is maintained during the motion to unlock and launch the camera. The motion sensor waits for the touchscreen to first register an arbitrary touch, and then subsequently searches for the rotational motion.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein: the mobile terminal does not respond to any typical touch or key input while the mobile terminal is in the lock mode; and the mobile terminal does not respond to the touch input received while the mobile terminal is in the lock mode unless the specific movement of the mobile terminal is detected sequentially or substantially at the same time such that the specific movement is detected while the touch input is maintained on the touch screen.

Plain English Translation

The mobile terminal of Claim 1, while locked, ignores regular touches or button presses. The phone ONLY responds to touch input on the lock screen if the specific rotation movement happens at the same time or shortly after the touch. If a touch is registered and maintained, the motion sensor will begin looking for the matching motion input to unlock the phone. Without the correct motion, the phone will stay locked.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the lock screen comprises at least a lock mode indicator, current time information, charge status information, or signal strength information.

Plain English Translation

In the mobile terminal of Claim 1, the lock screen that appears when the device is locked shows at least one of these things: an indicator that the phone is locked, the current time, the battery charging status, or the strength of the cell signal. The lock screen provides basic information without requiring the user to unlock the device.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the touch input is received via a specific location of the touch screen such that the mobile terminal stays in the lock mode when a touch input is received at a location of the touch screen other than the specific location, when no touch input is received at the specific location, and when a specific movement of the mobile terminal is detected while the touch input received at the location of the touch screen other than the specific location is maintained.

Plain English Translation

In the mobile terminal of Claim 1, the touch input must happen at a *specific* spot on the screen. If the user touches somewhere else on the screen, the phone will stay locked, *even* if the user rotates the phone. The unlocking sequence only works if the touch is at the pre-defined spot AND the correct motion is performed.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the predefined operating mode is pre-selected by a user via the user interface such that the predefined operating mode is changeable according to the user's selection of a function to be associated with the touch input and the specific movement of the mobile terminal.

Plain English Translation

In the mobile terminal of Claim 1, the user gets to pick which operating mode (e.g., camera) launches when they touch the screen and rotate the phone. The user interface lets them change this setting, associating the touch-and-motion gesture with different apps or functions. This customization lets the user define which action is most easily and quickly accessed from the locked state.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. A method of controlling a mobile terminal comprising a touch screen and a motion sensor, the method comprising: displaying, on the touch screen, a user interface for setting a predefined operating mode, the predefined operating mode set in response to an input received via the user interface, such that the mobile terminal enters the set predefined operating mode in response to a touch input received via the touch screen and a specific movement of the mobile terminal detected by the motion sensor while the mobile terminal is in a lock mode, the predefined operating mode comprising a camera mode; displaying a lock screen on the touch screen when the mobile terminal is in the lock mode, wherein the mobile terminal remains in the lock mode when no movement of the mobile terminal is detected by the motion sensor while the touch input received via one or more arbitrary points of the touch screen displaying the lock screen is maintained; unlocking the mobile terminal that is in the lock mode and then entering the camera mode in response to detection of the specific movement of the mobile terminal by the motion sensor, the specific movement detected when the mobile terminal is rotated about an axis while the touch input received via one or more arbitrary points of the touch screen displaying the lock screen is maintained; and displaying an operation screen associated with the camera mode, instead of the lock screen, on the touch screen when the mobile terminal is unlocked in response to the touch input and the specific movement that are received and detected concurrently.

Plain English Translation

A method for a mobile terminal with a touchscreen and motion sensor includes: displaying a user interface for setting a preferred operating mode (like camera mode), so that when the phone is locked, touching the screen and making a specific motion (rotating around an axis) unlocks the phone and opens the chosen app (camera). The method also includes showing a lock screen while locked. The phone only unlocks when the touch and rotation are detected together, replacing the lock screen with the camera app.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the motion sensor comprises at least an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor.

Plain English Translation

The method described in Claim 8 uses a motion sensor that includes either an acceleration sensor or a gyroscope (or potentially both) to detect the specific motion required to unlock the device and enter the pre-defined operating mode. This motion sensor provides the data necessary for the mobile terminal to determine if the user has performed the correct movement in conjunction with the touchscreen input.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the touch input is received and then the specific movement of the mobile terminal is detected sequentially such that the receiving of the touch input occurs prior to the detection of the specific movement, and the touch input is maintained on the touch screen while the specific movement is performed.

Plain English Translation

In the method of Claim 8, the touch input occurs *before* the phone is rotated. The user touches the screen and *keeps* touching it while rotating the phone. The process checks that touch is maintained during the motion to unlock and launch the camera. The motion sensor waits for the touchscreen to first register an arbitrary touch, and then subsequently searches for the rotational motion.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein: the mobile terminal does not respond to any typical touch or key input while the mobile terminal is in the lock mode; and the mobile terminal does not respond to the touch input received while the mobile terminal is in the lock mode unless the specific movement of the mobile terminal is detected sequentially or substantially at the same time such that the specific movement is detected while the touch input is maintained on the touch screen.

Plain English Translation

The method of Claim 8 specifies that the mobile terminal, while locked, ignores regular touches or button presses. The phone ONLY responds to touch input on the lock screen if the specific rotation movement happens at the same time or shortly after the touch. If a touch is registered and maintained, the motion sensor will begin looking for the matching motion input to unlock the phone. Without the correct motion, the phone will stay locked.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lock screen comprises at least a lock mode indicator, current time information, charge status information, or signal strength information.

Plain English Translation

In the method of Claim 8, the lock screen that appears when the device is locked shows at least one of these things: an indicator that the phone is locked, the current time, the battery charging status, or the strength of the cell signal. The lock screen provides basic information without requiring the user to unlock the device.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the touch input is received via a specific location of the touch screen such that the mobile terminal stays in the lock mode when a touch input is received at a location of the touch screen other than the specific location, when no touch input is received at the specific location, and when a specific movement of the mobile terminal is detected while the touch input received at the location of the touch screen other than the specific location is maintained.

Plain English Translation

In the method of Claim 8, the touch input must happen at a *specific* spot on the screen. If the user touches somewhere else on the screen, the phone will stay locked, *even* if the user rotates the phone. The unlocking sequence only works if the touch is at the pre-defined spot AND the correct motion is performed.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predefined operating mode is pre-selected by a user via the user interface such that the predefined operating mode is changeable according to the user's selection of a function to be associated with the touch input and the specific movement of the mobile terminal.

Plain English Translation

In the method of Claim 8, the user gets to pick which operating mode (e.g., camera) launches when they touch the screen and rotate the phone. The user interface lets them change this setting, associating the touch-and-motion gesture with different apps or functions. This customization lets the user define which action is most easily and quickly accessed from the locked state.

Classification Codes (CPC)

Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

November 24, 2014

Publication Date

March 7, 2017

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